What’s cool about kegels is that you can do them anytime, anyplace, and no one knows. So when PeriCoach announced #kegelface, their new campaign, I agreed to join in. Above is my #kegelface. I’m at the bottom of the slide at Durham’s Museum of Life and Science. We had a blast there with my grandson Mazen last week. Any place is a good place for kegels, including the bottom of a sliding board!

Kegels work, and I so appreciate PeriCoach’s effort to spread the word in a fun way. I’ll be putting my #kegelface out on social media. I’m hoping you will too!

Here’s the scoop from PeriCoach. Do check out the links to the National Association for Continence and the Voices for PFD. Both websites have plenty of information for women:

Bladder leakage is a topic many prefer to cover up rather than talk about or fix even though it affects millions of women. The company behind the new PeriCoach® System – a pelvic floor muscle training device + smart phone app – hopes to change that. Their new campaign, called #kegelface, encourages women to post their “Kegel faces” on social media to demonstrate they are taking back control of their pelvic floors through regular and smart Kegel exercises.

Kegels are pelvic floor muscle training exercises and considered first line treatment for urinary incontinence (UI). About one in three women will experience UI at some point in their lives, typically after childbirth and around menopause.

“We know that pelvic floor muscle training is very effective for reducing or eliminating urine leakage, but like any exercise program, women have to be inspired to take that first step and start a daily regimen of exercise to see results,” said Leslie M. Rickey, MD, Departments of Urology and Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine. “As physicians, we struggle with ensuring patient engagement with their pelvic floor health once they leave the office. #kegelface is a way for women to stay connected with these important exercises and also unites the millions suffering from bladder control issues.”

Cleared for use by the Food and Drug Administration and available by prescription, PeriCoach, made by Australian company, Analytica, is designed to take the frustration out of a regular program of pelvic muscle floor training. PeriCoach provides real-time feedback that is beamed to a smartphone so women and their clinicians can track progress.

“It’s exciting to be part of a campaign designed to help empower women to manage the health of their pelvic floor,” said Steven G Gregg, Ph.D., Executive Director of the National Association For Continence. “Many women want to take control of their health and performing Kegel exercises properly is certainly one way in which they can make a difference.”

“AUGS is pleased be a partner in #kegelface. It is a fun way to raise awareness and get women reengaged in this important exercise that if done right can make a difference,” said Michelle Zinnert, Executive Director, Voices for PFD.

In appreciation of participation, the company will offer women who post their “Kegelface” to their Instagram, Facebook or Twitter accounts along with hashtag #kegelface a discount code for purchase of the PeriCoach. A downloadable Rx form for signature by a clinician is available from www.pericoach.com.

The #Kegelface campaign follows “Leakers Anonymous,” an internet campaign PeriCoach introduced earlier this summer and viewed by hundreds of thousands around the world. Watch here.

#Kegelface social media campaign runs from October 20th to the second week of November to mark Bladder Health Week 2015.

About five years ago, at dinner with girlfriends, we confessed one at a time, that we each had some leaking issues. You could hear the collective sigh that we aren’t alone. Reminds me of this video. Love the brave underpants lady!

Stats show that millions of women experience urinary leakage, but only fifty percent talk about the problem or look for help. Women become resigned to leakage after childbirth or as a consequence of aging. Big mistake! In 1948, Dr. Arnold Kegel first explained the pelvic floor exercise that works wonders. Thank you, Dr. Kegel.

Unfortunately, many women don’t practice kegels correctly or they stop doing the exercise. PeriCoach takes the guesswork out of kegels. Check out the PeriCoach website to learn more.

Here’s an innovative product created to help women master the art of the mighty kegel! The post is prepared by Analytica Limited, the developers of the PeriCoach System:

The millions of women who experience bladder leakage now have a new option to strengthen and tone away their problem instead of covering it up with pads.

The PeriCoach System is a discreet device and smartphone app that helps women perform at-home pelvic floor muscle training, exercises recommended by the American College of Physicians as first-line treatment for urinary incontinence. PeriCoach is the only system that includes a web portal allowing clinicians to remotely monitor their patients’ progress.

“Pelvic floor muscle exercises are a great, non-invasive treatment for urinary incontinence. However, with verbal or written instructions alone, many women find ‘Kegels’ difficult to do on their own, and they become frustrated with the lack of progress,” said Leslie M. Rickey, MD, MPH, associate professor of urology and obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale University. “PeriCoach offers reassuring, visual feedback and allows clinicians to monitor progress between visits.”

Urinary incontinence affects close to 18 million women, yet many suffer in silence, which often stems from the misinformed idea that incontinence is an untreatable consequence of having had children or a result of aging.

The PeriCoach System is simple: a device containing three biosensors is inserted into the vagina. The biosensors detect the strength of each muscle contraction and record each exercise session. These results are instantly sent to a smartphone over a Bluetooth wireless connection. The app collects and analyzes the readings and gives a picture of how the user is doing over time. It also sends exercise reminders to women and her results to a clinician or pelvic health specialist.

The PeriCoach System was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March 2015 and is now available by prescription from a clinician, nurse or physical therapist. PeriCoach can be ordered directly at www.PeriCoach.com with an uploaded prescription.

“It is shocking that women continue to suffer the challenges of bladder leaking when, in many cases, they can address it with consistent and properly performed pelvic floor exercises,” continued Dr. Rickey. “Women need to stop accepting bladder issues as a natural consequence of childbirth or aging and take control. I hope women and clinicians will take advantage of this new technology.”

Analytica Limited is a Brisbane-based public company (ASX Code: ALT) specializing in the development of innovative technology-based solutions for unmet medical needs, manufactures and markets the PeriCoach System. For more information, visit www.AnalyticaMedical.com

I received compensation in return for posting this information about PeriCoach. I believe kegels work and so am glad to suggest methods for learning to do them effectively.

What’s new in the world of kegels? This innovative product from Intimina designed to help you keep your pelvic floor in shape. When they contacted me about a post, I was glad to give them THIS floor on Friend for the Ride:

About 20 million American women suffer from incontinence. While bladder leakage can occur at different stages of life, menopausal women are among the most frequently affected. Hormonal changes during menopause often weaken the pelvic muscles, making it easier for incontinence to occur.

Thankfully, the number one doctor recommended treatment is one that can be done in the comfort of your own home – Kegel exercises.

Kegels work your pelvic floor – a group of muscles that support vital internal organs like the bladder, bowel, and uterus and help control their function. Kegel exercises strengthen your pelvic floor and can eliminate leaks.

Knowing that the solution for most women is a simple exercise supported by doctors is comforting; however, the problem is that without guidance most women who try Kegels tend to quickly give up. They don’t know for how long they should hold each contraction or how many contractions to do; they can’t even tell if they’re making progress.

KegelSmartis a device that guides you through a short and effective Kegel workout. Made by Intimina, a Swedish brand, it’s small, discreet, and coated in a soft, medical grade silicone.

KegelSmart is like a mini personal trainer, coaching you through a complete Kegel session with easy-to-follow vibration guidance. The instructions are simple: contract your muscles when you feel the vibrations, and rest when they stop. That’s it. It only takes 5 minutes and you’re finished.

KegelSmart automatically adjusts the exercise level from 1 up to 5—with 5 being the highest—so you’re always working out at the strength level that’s right for you. When you turn on KegelSmart, a little LED light blinks to indicate which level you are on so you can keep track of your progress and keep motivated to reach level five.

Completing the KegelSmart routine once daily will help you achieve total pelvic health. Once you have reached your goals, you can reduce usage to 3-5 times a week to maintain your tone.

Bladder leaks are not something you need to live with; they can be treated. If you are experiencing leaks, talk to your medical practitioner today about Kegel exercises.

Thanks, KegelSmart, for the post and the information. Love that gorgeous shade of pink!